Question about Aristo SD45's

[Anonymous]

This year I am planning on purchasing two Aristo SD45's like these.

I just wanted to know how many cars it can pull and if it can go on 6.5 diameter curved track? Also does anyone know how many amps these need?

[Marty Cozad]

You may want to go to Aristo's forum and see. There are lots of threads on the SD-45s.
I now have 4. On my lower loop I can pull40+ cars each. But 60 cars is max with what the RR can handle cause of a 10' dia S curve going into the tunnel. They tip over under the pressure. I have steel wheels on all cars and a 1% grade going into the tunnel. My 450ft loop is not big enough to test these monsters. I'm sure I can go to 80 if not for that one spot. ( I don't think I have 80 cars tho)
The amps I don't know , I use 18 volt battery and never a problem with 3 units.
6.5 dia , not sure all my line is 20'dia but one spot. That needs to be changed next year.

[Anonymous]

I own a USA Trains SD40-2 which is very similar to the Aristo SD45, and it cannot go around anything less than 8ft diamiter because of the wheelbase. I doubt that the SD45 could go around a 6.5 ft curve, but I do not own one to be certain. I even have issues going around my smallest 8ft diamiter curves, and cannot back up cars through those turns without multiple derailments. You might want to try a smaller diesl, perhaps a 2-axle one that could negotiate the smaller curves. Good luck solving your problem!

[Marty Cozad]

I run two SD-40-2s on my container train and they need 10 dia or so to run good. I agree on buying a two axel unit for smaller RRs and curves to sart with.

I hate to see folks start out having problems and get discouraged.

[bman36]

Marty,
Was in Saskatchewan this morning and saw a SOO followed by two Union Pacific like yours in the photo. Funny thing was it was on Canadian Pacific rails and no CP locos in site! Go figure? It was near Estevan, Sask. which is close to the US border. Nice locos you have. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Marty and Teran5,
Thanks for the photo's and the tips. I am in the process of rebuilding and expanding my Garden Railroad so I think I'll expand the curves to a higher dia. I don't want to have many problems on the railroad so I think this is the best idea. Thanks.

[bman36]

Hey Guys,
As soon as I get my five acres in Pine Ridge, Mb. I will be building a modern layout along with my Narrow Guage line. Currently I have all 8 foot dia. curves on my outdoor layout so at least I can give a bigger loco a try. My only diesel is my Aristo FA1. Love vintage Canadian Pacific. The maroon and grey colour scheme is way nicer to me than the modern stuff. Here in Winnipeg BNSF has I believe a GP9 running around the south end of the city doing some switching. Love their modern colour scheme. Marty Kozad's diesels looked nice on the cover of February 2003. Wet my appetite for modern standard guage stuff. Later eh...Brian. [:D] [tup]

[Anonymous]

8' min curve tryed mine on a 6 or 6.5 w/ small stright peaces ,,,,,,,, naaaaaaa didnt look right and uncouples

[bman36]

phonedrn8,
These locos look best on those long sweeping curves. For me it would be at least 16' diameter for the right effect. Bigger in this case is better. I find my Alco to be marginal on the 8' diameter curves. Now if it were only spring...Later eh...Brian.

[BudSteinhoff]

SD45 is one tough loco but it needs min. 8ft dia curves and switches.
Mine go thru over twenty 8 ft switches with no problem.
Bud

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replys. I am planning on updating the railroad to 8'-10' curves or larger. I have my eye on the Santa Fe version in the red/silver warbonnet scheme and a regular Santa Fe unit to run behind it.

[Anonymous]

Good luck with your venture, I'm doing the same thing, trying to get everything mainline up to a 10' diamiter so that my larger equipment will work without problems. You might also want to look into switches as well. I've found that most of my problems come from my LGB switches with my large engines going through the 8 foot diamiter curves. I'm currently ordering #6 brass turnouts from Sunset Valley as they come highly reccomended to me from many people I know. There is quite a bit of information here in the forums about switches. Once again, good luck with your project!